Worldwide, the supply and demand for craft non-alcoholic beer are growing rapidly. NA beer’s rising popularity can be explained by a few different reasons.
Many people are exploring healthier lifestyles, which has led to more people and companies investing in brewing NA beer.
More supply leads to more competition, more competition leads to higher expectations from consumers and lower costs.
Higher expectations lead to better beer.
Better beer leads to more people giving it a try and choosing to drink more of it.
More people drinking NA beer, well, leads to more people and companies investing in brewing more of it…
Non-alcoholic beer drinkers have an exciting road ahead of them. Over the next few years, we can expect to see the market explode with new options and offerings.
Many US companies are throwing their hat into the ring, introducing great new NA options to Americans all over the country. We wanted to highlight a few American cities that are already ahead of the rest of the nation when it comes to brewing non-alcoholic craft beer.
American Cities Leading the Nation in Craft Non-Alcoholic Beer
When it comes to NA beer, the United States is, unfortunately, falling behind when compared to Europe. However, these American cities are changing that.
Size is no limit for delicious NA beer, with these cities ranging from tiny mountain towns to major metropolitan areas.
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Connecticut. It was settled in 1639 by Puritans, so it’s only fitting that the town is now a non-alcoholic hot-spot.
Stratford has a population of about 52,000 and is home to Athletic Brewing Company, the current top-dog in non-alcoholic craft beer.
Athletic’s mission to redefine craft NA beer has attracted prominent investors such as Lance Armstrong and JJ Watt.
Their work to normalize NA beer has been a major factor to the recent boom in NA beer in America.
Hailey, Idaho
Hailey is a small town tucked away in the mountains of Idaho.
Hailey is surrounded by the Sawtooth National Forest and sits along the Big Wood River. It’s home to about 9,000 as well as Atmos Brewing Company.
Atmos started in 2020 as the non-alcoholic arm of Sawtooth Brewing Company. They offer a variety of craft non-alcoholic beers, each made with water from the Big Wood River and malt and hops grown right in Idaho.
Atmos offers everything from a variety of IPAs to a crisp Golden Ale, to a Peanut Butter Dark Stout.
For a small town, Atmos is making a big impact and making Hailey a top destination for NA beer.
New York City
Of course, as such a big city, you’d guess New York City has to be home to NA brewers. But not as many as you would think for its size.
Brewers like AL’s and Brooklyn Brewing are carrying the weight for the rest of the city, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
AL’s Classic Pilsner is one of the few NA pilsners on the market as it’s a hard one to match. It’s is a great option for any beer lover, NA or leaded. In our opinion, AL’s is a must-try.
Brooklyn Brewing has had a few NA options for a little while. Their line of Special Effects includes an IPA and a hoppy Amber that’s widely available around the US.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is smack-dab in the middle of Ohio. It’s the 14th largest city in the United States with a metro population of 2 million and is home to one of the largest non-alcoholic beer brewers in the nation.
Brewdog opened its North American headquarters in Columbus back in 2016. They offer an entire line of NA beers, each as a non-alcoholic version of their top-selling leaded beers. For example, their Punk IPA has an “alcohol-free” counterpart called Punk AF or the Elvis AF after their popular grapefruit IPA Elvis Juice.
Columbus is also home to us, NA Beer Club, offering an NA beer-of-the-month club, an online non-alcoholic craft beer store, as well as resources on where to find and buy the best non-alcoholic beer.
Other Columbus craft breweries, like Seventh Son, are slowly starting to join the NA scene.
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in the state of Maine. Its population is about 68,000 with a metro population of about a half million.
The Portland area is also a new up-and-coming hot-spot for NA beer.
Woodland Farms Brewing Company, based out of Kittery just south of the Portland area, recently hit the market with a few NA brews. Pointer IPA, Whitty Wheat, and their Dark Stout have made a splash recently.
Another brand-new Portland NA brewery making a name for themselves is Kit NA, recently launching their beer On Your Mark.
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the 12th most populous city in Colorado at about 108,000 population in 2020.
Sitting at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, locals spend their time enjoying outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, biking, and running. With so many health-conscious people, it’s no wonder why it’s becoming a hotspot for NA beer.
One brewery, in particular, is our friends at ItsaLika Beer. In true Boulder fashion, they brew their beer for adventurers who want to enjoy a cold beer anywhere at any time. Their West Coast Style IPA and Super Crisp Golden Ale are top-notch NA beers and hard to beat.
Boulder is also home to Bootstrap Brewing who offers a non-alcoholic called Strapless NA.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
No list of cities leading the world in non-alcoholic beer is complete without Minneapolis.
Minneapolis is by far the leading US in NA beer. It is home to plenty of breweries that have ventured into the NA space.
For one, Bauhaus Brew Labs has launched a line of non-alcoholic craft beer they call “Nah“. It includes a Helles, an Amber, and even a Sour.
Hairless Dog Brewing Company also calls Minneapolis home. They recently re-launched their beers with an IPA, a Black Ale, and a Citra Lager.
Fulton Brewing Company in also offers a “non-beer” option but the Golden Ale is only available on draft.
Breweries in the surrounding Minnesota area venturing into NA options mostly due to a company called ABV Technology, a company dedicated to helping local breweries make great-tasting non-alcoholic craft beer. If you’re a brewery looking to venture into the NA space, we recommend checking them out.
Did We Miss Any?
Are there any cities you think we missed? If so, please let us know. You can reach us on social media, or by email.
Happy drinking!
